The correspondence of William Augustus Miles on the French Revolution, 1789-1817

6 November 1792

Battle of Jemappes

CORRESPONDENCE OF W. A, MILES S3

at Jemmapes, that Dumouriez had entered Belgium, and that the Dutch and tlie Scheldt were imperilled, it was perceived, and indeed the Duke of Leeds acknowledged, that the policy so persistently placed before the British Government by their confidential and indefatigable Envoy at Liege would have been found judicious in its adoption and advantageous in its results.'

CORRESPONDENCE OF W. A. MILES 63

As the autumn advanced afiairs took a still more serious turn. The victory of Dumouriez over the Austrians at Jemmapes, November 6, and the dangers which thereby threatened Belgium, the Scheldt, and Holland, introduced grave comphcations. On that battle-field Maret had taken leave of Dumouriez, and, travelling through Flanders, arrived in London on the evening of November 8. This mission, it is stated, was simply on private matters connected with the Orleans family, but the opportunity was readily seized to watch the political horizon. ' J'aurai eu le temps, clier citoyen,' he wrote to Le Brun, November 10, ' de causer

THE FRENCH REVOLUTJOK 867

* ' A r^poque de la bataille de Jemmapes [Nov. 6, 1792], les vues des homines qiii exer^aient la principale influence sur les actes du pouvoir ex^cutif n'allaient que jusqu'4 I'^tablissement d'un £tat beige ind^pen- dant. C'dtait encore sur cette base que Lebrun voulait preparer un ar- rangement, quand il adjoignit 4 Noel un autre agent, le jeune Mourgue, dont le p^re avait tenu le portefeuille de rint^rieur dans le ministere Girondin de Louis XVI, et ne s'etait retir^ qu'avec Dumouriez. Mourgue p^re ^tait connu par des travaux s^rieux, notamment par un ouvrage estim^ on Angleterre, sur le traits de commerce de 1786. La premi^rjB pens^e du ministre avait M d'adjoindre Mourgue fils A Chau- velin, avec le titre de secretaire de legation, et ce fut pour prendre pos- session de ce poste qu'il fut envoy^ A Londres au mois d'Octobre. L*amour-propre de Chauvelin vit dans cet arrangement une tentative maladroitement ddguis^e pour le remettre en tutelle. II refiisa d*y ac- c^der, sous pr^texte qu'il n'avait pas ^t^ consult^. Mourgue resta alors comme agent secret, et fit preuve d'intelligence et de z^le. H n'existait

THE FRENCH REVOLUTJOK 867

Minute: December 3. — I had the pleasure this day of making the acquaintance of M. Maret, whom I found extremely affable, frank, and communicative. He told me he had been well received by Mr. Pitt, who appeared to be equally well pleased with him ; the conversation had been very long, and he had assured Mr. Pitt that instructions were transmitted to Dumouriez to be circumspect in his conduct towards the Dutch, and to make no attack either on the sovereignty, or privileges, or independence of that people. Maret came by Flanders and saw Dumouriez at the battle of Jemmapes, November 6. Dumouriez had resolved to besiege the Austrians in their intrenchments, as if they had been in a citadel, and to take them by storm, if they had not fought. A schism having broken out among the patriots at Liege, Maret had reconciled their differences, and they had entered that city as friends. Fabry had been at Bouillon. Chauvelin, informed of the uneasiness of Ministers as to Holland, had written to Lord Grenville desiring an interview merely to apprise him of the determination of the Executive Council not to invade Holland. Lord Grenville answered the note